In the world of women’s hurdles, there’s no room for hesitation—just pure competition at the highest level. When Masai Russell enters the track, she is not only racing but also going to the battlefield, where only the elite battle with each other. As a legendary track star put it, “No ducking, no ducking—we aren’t ducking; we’re lining up and we’re going.”

The intensity and pressure while performing on track is something every athlete goes through. And Masai Russell? Well, track and field legend Justin Gatlin has his honest opinion about her. The five-time Olympic medalist appeared on his podcast, Ready Set Go, along with pundit Rodney Green for this. The two legends had some choice words for the young speedster.

Reflecting on her achievement, Gatlin noted, “Because the pressure of you becoming an Olympic gold medalist is off. It’s off your shoulders now. You won that. What’s next?” After achieving one accolade, this question always arises. Masai Russell’s journey of breaking world records at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 100-meter hurdles was a one-of-a-kind event. Her clock-out time was 12.33 and she managed to win the race against France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela by only 0.01 seconds.

Gatlin further added, “

Become a world champion. Become a world record holder. And you can start making your moves and checking off on your list exactly what you want to be.” At just 24, Russell has already realized her Olympic dreams. As the Olympian observed, “So, for Masai, she’s in a really good place. She has what she always dreamed of having right now.”

Justin Gatlin further added, “And now she just has to take on the responsibility that she owes it to herself to become the best athlete that she can be and go out there and keep winning as much as she can.” After her Olympic victory, Russell has plotted a course for the world championships and might also break new records.

She is prepared to make compromises in order to achieve her main objective, which is to compete in the World Championships in Tokyo this September. Hurdle U has just won a 60-meter hurdle at the 2025 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with a time of 7.80 seconds. But how does she deal with the pressure before the race?

Masai Russell and other athletes face pressure

Transitioning from a collegiate champion to an Olympic gold medalist, Masai Russell faces the immense pressure of maintaining her winning streak. As former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin raised a question, “We should ask one of the athletes. We should ask Masai one day, like, ‘Hey, what is it like between y’all? Like, is there an air of pressure and kind of competitive anxiety that surrounds that whole call room, like it is with 100-meter runners?”

Every athlete must face the pressure just before they go for the reason. The pressure of performing better than others, the pressure of beating their own personal best. Gatlin has some appreciative words for Masai Russell. He stated, “What makes it interesting for me with Masai is that I’m watching her, and I feel a bit of déjà vu. Because she won the Olympic gold very early in her career. I think this is her sophomore year, correct?”

Masai Russell has recently won the 60m hurdles race at the Millrose Games with 7.76s and gave a great performance at the NB Grand Prix. But is it easy for her to race 60 m or 100 m? The 100-meter race, known for its intense competition, demands unparalleled mental fortitude. Gatlin emphasized the necessity of a fierce mindset, stating, “You have to be a monster, a dog against your rivals.”

In contrast, longer sprints like the 400 meters, while physically grueling, often involve different pacing strategies and may not carry the same immediate pressure to win. This particular shows how sprinters with the same talent as Russell encounter their sport’s hard nuts that require psychological solutions to be at the top tier for long.

She’s right there, proving she belongs among the elite. The call room before a race like this must be electric—If we could put a camera in that call room… is it quiet? Is somebody talking? What is happening? One thing’s for sure: when the gun goes off, it’s all about who comes out firing.